Augustine

United States

59.363°N, 153.43°W; summit elev. 1252 m

All times are local (unless otherwise noted)

Low-level eruptive activity continued at Augustine during 24-31 March. Signals continued to be recorded by the seismic network that were associated with occasional hot block-and-ash flows, rock avalanches, rockfalls, and lava flows. Small and dilute ash clouds resulting from these processes were likely confined to the immediate vicinity of the volcano. Satellite imagery continued to show a thermal anomaly related to the new lava dome and lava flow. Airborne sulfur-dioxide gas measurements showed continued high levels of magmatic gas output. Low-light camera observations indicated that activity was restricted mainly to the summit lava dome. Augustine remained at Concern Color Code Orange.

Geologic Background. Augustine volcano, rising above Kamishak Bay in the southern Cook Inlet about 290 km SW of Anchorage, is the most active volcano of the eastern Aleutian arc. It consists of a complex of overlapping summit lava domes surrounded by an apron of volcaniclastic debris that descends to the sea on all sides. Few lava flows are exposed; the flanks consist mainly of debris-avalanche and pyroclastic-flow deposits formed by repeated collapse and regrowth of the volcano's summit. The latest episode of edifice collapse occurred during Augustine's largest historical eruption in 1883; subsequent dome growth has restored the volcano to a height comparable to that prior to 1883. The oldest dated volcanic rocks on Augustine are more than 40,000 years old. At least 11 large debris avalanches have reached the sea during the past 1800-2000 years, and five major pumiceous tephras have been erupted during this interval. Historical eruptions have typically consisted of explosive activity with emplacement of pumiceous pyroclastic-flow deposits followed by lava dome extrusion with associated block-and-ash flows.